My life in the center of the world -- musings on my family, community (local, global, physical and virtual), people and more. Oh and of course, a few words on tech related start-ups, within the context of living in the ulimate start-up with humble goal of repairing the world. Venture backed by over 3,000 years of history, thought, culture, and angst.
By Jacob Ner-David

December 10, 2008

Later this week, my friend and soulmate of more than 20 years, Yosef Israel Abramowitz will stand in the primaries of a new political party, the Green Movement. Hastily put together, as all activist endeavors are, in the face of the new/old political machines of the new/old State of Israel, Yosef and the other candidates are running on the winds of change.

For the first time since becoming an Israeli citizen (formally in 1996) I joined a political party, because Yosef, Alon Tal, and the other founders of this new party took the time to write a 17 page platform that speaks to the holisitic incredible potential of this experiment known as the State of Israel. (Yes...Israel is still very much an experiment, with many mistakes made along the way, in the search for the "right" formula -- more on that another time).

Not since the late Menachem Begin of blessed memory left the political stage have we been led by people with a Jewish world view. Gevalt, you say, how could I so easily besmirch leaders such as Rabin of blessed memory, Netanyahu, Peres, Barak, Livni, and more, who have devoted their lives to the Jewish people and State. Yes, they have, but unfortunately they do not think or express themselves in a deeply Jewish manner. Once in a blue moon Peres can pull from deep down, reaching back 70-80 years and express a Jewish longing, but most of the time he sounds like a nice UN diplomat with a funny accent. And the rest? Sigh...very shallow professional politicians that wouldn't recognize the Jewish people walking down the street.

My hope for the Green Movement, is that like Greens all over the world, they go way beyond formalistic "environment" issues, and speak to the Jewish hope for a better world. Starting here, and then speaking out to the world. As Jews. Creating a Jewish State. To me, the ultimate Green is someone who is concerned about more than him/herself. Which is the Jewish ideal.

Why aren't I running for Knesset? Nu, my father asks the same question. For now I am supporting Yosef Abramowitz and the rest of the Green Movement in their knesset bid.

If you have the time, come this Friday morning to the Kibbutz Seminar campus in Tel Aviv to watch history in the making, as the Green Movement holds it first primaries (and if by chance you are a member, vote for Yosef!).

December 02, 2008

I was born in 1969. In 1985, when I was barely 17, Jonathan Pollard was arrested for espionage activities on behalf of the State of Israel in the United States. That sentence alone should have been enough to quickly spirit Jonathan out of the US, after all the US and Israel are "strategic allies," and if Israel felt it needed a spy in the US military (Jonathan was a US Navy intelligence analyst) then all parties should have been embarrased, and the underlying causes addressed. Instead Jonathan was made a sacrifical lamb, and the underlying issues remain (more on that another time).

In 1989, when I was 20, and Jonathan had been imprisoned for four years (in solitary confinement), I had the incredible experience of being one the first people outside his family to visit him in prison. I found Jonathan to be a sweet, genuine, soulful individual, obviously a genius, deeply depressed. We went on to become friends, and over the next 2-3 years I visited him several more times.

Unfortunately, as time went on and very few people came to his defense, Jonathan became more and more cynical, paranoid, and bitter. And my life went on, I married, had children, became busy. Like all of us. But Jonathan...he remained in prison.

Jonathan has now started his 24th year in jail. He has served longer than any other person convicted of espionage --for full details see www.jonathanpollard.org. Yes, I have many excuses, as we all do, but I feel I need to say to my friend Jonathan, I am so sorry. I cannot believe it is now almost 20 years since we met in a maximum security jail. So much has happened, and yet for you life has stood still. Except you are now 20 years older. Gevalt. I am so sorry.

Jonathan, I will do more this year to see you set free. I pray that this be your last year behind bars, and look forward to greeting you here in Jerusalem.

At a minimum, I ask anyone reading this to take 5 minutes and help Jonathan as instructed below. If you can do more, please do. I will.

The Committee to Bring Jonathan Pollard Home has arranged a special local Israeli telephone number to call the White House that does not require callers to pay long distance charges. Using the number 077-5664305, callers are charged as if they had made a regular local call, not a long distance call.

For those not in Israel, the regular numbers remain in effect: White House, 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414 and fax numbers 202-456-2883 or 202-456-2461.